YOO HOO STAR !! I found THREE methods for preserving flowers..... - Big Big Forums

Jolie Rouge · 06-14-2001, 02:46 AM

I found a very cool book at the library : " Recipes for Arts and Crafts Materials" by Helen Roney Sattler published by Lothrop, Lee, & Shepard Books - New York Copyright 1987
They have all kinds of cool stuff - ya'll test me - c'mon, I'm ready for you now (at least until July 5 when I have to bring it back...

) Anyway....
Flower Preservative with Cornmeal :
! part powdered borax
2 parts cornmeal
covered cardboard box (shoebox or stationary box)
fresh flowers

Thoroughly mix cornmeal and borax
Cover the bottom of the box with 3/4 of an inch of the mixture.
Cut flower stems to about 1 inch long. Lay the flowers face down in the mixture. Spread the petals and leaves so that they lie as flat as pooiable. Do not lay flowers too close together - they should not touch at all.
Cover the flowers with 3/4 inch of mixture.
Place lid on box and keep at room temperature for 3 to 4 weeks

How to Use :
Using this method, try preserving daisies, pansies, apple blossoms, asters, violets, and other flowers. they will stay summer fresh indefinitely.

Flower Preservative with Borax
Florist's Wire
Airtight Container ( coffee can or plastic cottage cheese contaner )
plastic bag
Borax
wire or string (bread ties)
soft brush (soft bristled paintbrush)

Pick flowers at the peak of their bloom.
Remove stems. Make new stems with florists wire. Run wire through the base of each flower and twist the two ends together.
Line container with plastic bag.
Pour enough borax inot plastic bag to cover bottom to the depth of 1 inch.
Place a flower face down in the borax. Pour about 1 inch over the top of the flower. Repeat until the container is full.
Gather the top of the bag, squeezing out all the air inside. Fasten shut with wire or string.
Place lid on can and set aside in a dry place for at least 4 weeks.
Remove flowers from borax and carefully brush away all residue with a soft brush.

How to Use :
Twisting the wire stems, make an attractive floral arrangement.

Flowers suggested include : roses, pansies, violets, sweet peas, chrysanthemums, zinnias, marigolds, and daisies.

**** in both methods I think they are refering to the powdered borax that can be purchased in the laundry section at the local Wal-mart.... Anybody have any ideas who we could ask ?? *************

Jolie Rouge · 06-14-2001, 06:23 PM

Flower Preservative with Sand :
baking pan 9 1/2 inches X 13 1/2 inches X 2 inches
3 quarts sterile dry fine sand ( fine white sand ca be purchased, but any light colored sand can be used if it is first baked at 212 degrees for 20 minutes and sifted through a fine screen)
flour sifter or wire sieve
paper towels
soft brush ( soft bristled paint brush workd fine)

frsh flowers

Fill the pan 1 inch deep with sand.
Place flowers face up on the sand.
Sift about 1 inch of sand over the flowers, carefully pushing the sand under the flowers so that they lay naturally and do not dry distorted.
Bake at 200 degrees for about 2 hours. You will need to experiment a little to get exact baking times for your flowers. To test, pour a little sand off one corner. If the flowers are damp and droopy, they need to dry a little longer. If they are dull and dark, they have baked too long. ( I think the word she is looking for is burnt...)
They should look about the same as they did when you put them in the oven.
Pour off the top layer of sand and carefully remove the flowers. Lay them on the paper towels to cool for an hour or so.
With a soft brush, carefully clean off all the sand that remains on the flowers.

How to Use :
Flowers preserved by this method are excellent for making picture arrangements. Glue them to velvet or cardboard and then fram the picture.

To store flowers until you are ready to use them, place them face down in cardboard boxes.

Star · 06-15-2001, 04:10 PM

I'll give it a try, even though that one site says that the gardenias will turn black.

Jolie Rouge · 06-16-2001, 02:42 AM

Two words :

"SPRAY PAINT" LOL

You could try making potpouri out of the petals....

Jolie Rouge · 05-17-2003, 03:59 PM

bump

hotwheelstx · 05-18-2003, 01:30 PM

ALL these DO WORK. I've done them many times. Great post. I love to take our spring/summer flowers and preserve them for the winter months.

Little touch of spring is always in the house.

crazyme-ma · 05-19-2003, 11:53 AM

Here's another way I just ran across today, I'm not sure how well it works. Here's the web address if anyone wants to check it out.
Drying Flowers

There are some other really great projects at that site too.

Happy Crafting,
CrazyMe-Ma